May 17, 2013

FELCH - Forest Park's girls, in a runaway, and North Dickinson's boys, behind four Tim Hruska wins, captured team victories at an MHSAA Division 3 track and field regional Thursday afternoon at James D. Priestap Memorial Field.

The Lady Trojans collected 73 points, more than enough to surpass second place Lake Linden-Hubbell's 42. Dollar Bay (24), Chassell (20) and North Dickinson (19) rounded out the top five.

"We are definitely meeting expectations in some areas, exceeding in others," Forest Park coach Chandra Ziegler said. "I was very surprised to take the top three in the (100) hurdles there. I'm just very happy overall with everybody."

Forest Park wins came from Georgie Dohl in the 100 hurdles (17.28) and 300 hurdles (50.76), Amanda Bustillos in the 1600 (6:04.24), Melina Doering in the long jump (13-10.75) and Gina Graff in the discus (108-07.75) and shot put (29-05.5). Graff's discus was a personal best.

"There were a lot of personal bests all around," Ziegler said. "We qualified a lot of girls for U.P.s, so that's good. We have big goals for that meet as well."

Top four finishers in individual events and the top two relay teams earned qualification for the U.P. Finals at Kingsford High School Saturday, June 2.

Bustillos also qualified in the 3200, where she took second Thursday, and Doering took a third in high jump. Forest Park also will send Kendra Campbell (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Katie McCole (100 hurdles, 200), Libby Shamion (400) and Mary Grandahl (200).

North Dickinson got a win from Lexi Steele in the high jump (4-06.8) and also qualified Deborah Starnes (pole vault, long jump), Miranda Jacobson (long jump) and Elizabeth Charlevoix (shot put).

Chassell's Jamie Dompier took home wins three events, the 100 (12.45), 400 (1:02.33) and 200 (26.21).

For the boys, Hruska collected victories in the 110 hurdles (15.99), setting a personal best, 300 hurdles (43.93), 100 (11.45) and 200 (24.27). Cody Berg added a Nordic win in the shot put (43-03.5) and also qualified in the 400, long jump and high jump.

"I thought we competed well," North Dickinson coach Mike Lindholm said. "I think we finished about where we thought we would. I think we did exactly what we were supposed to."

"We had a couple of best times today, but not a lot of surprises," Lindholm said. "These guys have been pretty solid all year. They though they could win it and they went out and won it. They've done really well this year, and they work really hard."

Hilberg also qualified in the 400, while Wheat made the cut in the 800 and Aberly in the 800. Other Trojans qualifiers were Hank Steiro (300 hurdles), Austin Snell (200), Brett Hietala (200), Steve Hallmann (discus, shot put) and Raymond Tomasik (shot put).

Following North Dickinson and Forest Park in the team standings was Lake Linden-Hubbell (47), Dollar Bay (17), Chassell (3) and Republic-Michigamme (2).